Growing up, I spent a good part of my High School years playing basketball, I loved basketball, still do. In the summers I’d hoop it up on the play ground or head to the YMCA for some pickup games. YMCA basketball, it doesn’t get any finer than that. Generally the games were a combination of the young guys and the Wiley Veterans. If you have ever played basketball, you know about the Wiley Veteran.

The Wiley Veteran is generally the guy in his late thirties or forties. He played basketball in High School, maybe even some college ball and still likes to get out and mix it up with the young guys. But the Wiley Veteran isn’t the same guy that he was 20 years ago, mainly because he is now 30 pounds heavier, so he has to compensate his game. The Wiley Veteran shows up to the game often wearing cotton sweat pants and basketball shoes that were endorsed by Dominique Wilkins. He’s likely to be seen wearing a knee brace, ankle support, or both and he has to constantly check his cell phone to make sure his wife hasn’t called.

The Wiley Veteran has lost a step in his game, but he is not about to give up playing basketball. You hate to go up against the Wiley Veteran. They play defense, not quick defense, but bump you with the gut defense, they make it hard to get by. They’re also the guy that boxes you out hard on every play and loves to post you up. Since the Wiley Veteran has lost his step, he relies on the mid range jump shot which he nails 60% of the time. The Wiley Veteran relies on smarts, knowing the game, that’s how he beats you, well that and the every so common accidental elbow to the stomach.

Running is a lot different than basketball, it’s not so much a skill game, but they’re things that a Wiley Veteran runner can implement to still beat the young guy.

At 30 years of age, I’m not sure if I am a Wiley Veteran yet, but I like to play the role of the Wiley Veteran on race day. When I was in High School, I hated to get beat by the old guys and by old guys, I meant guys over 30 years of age. Now, I hate getting beat by the young High School Punks, which you tend to find in smaller 5ks. The High School Punks generally stay away from anything longer than a 5k road race and the last thing that you want to do is get into a final kick with the High School Punk, because they most likely will defeat you with their pure speed. In 2007, at the Farmers 5000, this happened to me, the youngster put on a smooth finishing kick when I challenged him with a 1/4 to go, leaving me in his dust. At the finish, I hear him talking to his fellow CC friends, telling them that “some old guy tried to pass me at the end!”

Here is a list of my top ten, old man, Wiley Veteran running tactics that I may or may not implement on you in any given race:

1. Drafting, the Wiley Veterans understands the benefits of drafting
2. Running the tangents and previewing the race course
3. At the start of the race, knowing the first turn of the race and starting the race on that side of the start line
4. Not going out to fast, all though I see a lot of old guys still doing this, but it’s best to run a steady pace and not get caught up going out to fast that first mile
5. If you’re nearing the end of the race and getting ready to pass another runner, size them up. If it’s a young guy that may be able to out kick you to the finish, make a strong and decisive move, pass them as hard as you can and then let up if you have to, so that they cannot get on your shoulder.
6. If it’s an older guy that you’re battling at the finish, generally they don’t want to put up a fight, thus you can generally beat the old guys with a quick 100 meter sprint.
7. Another sneaky, Wiley Veteran tactic is the sit and kick method. When the finish line is 20 meters away, you blow past them with a flourishing kick, that way they have no time to react.
8. Sometimes you can even implement two of the above finishing strategies in a single race. At a race a few years ago, with 1/4 mile to go, I started my kick to catch another runner, when I pulled up on his shoulder he responded quickly, as soon as he did that, I acted like I gave up and dropped my pace rapidly, letting him surge ahead. Then, I sprung like a cat and did a quick surge with 20 meters to go, reaching the finish line before he had time to respond.
9. Knowing your fluid intake, if it’s a shorter race don’t bother getting water, especially if it means running towards the other side of the road
10. Gear, the Wiley Veteran knows running gear. He knows not to wear cotton socks; he wears a singlet, and running shorts. Often times the High School Punk that you may be battling will be wearing basketball shorts and a cotton t-shirt, you need every advantage you can get against these “youts.”

If you know of any other Wiley veteran tactics, please let me know.